The CHCS Board

Daniel T. Barrett

Chair

Dan Barrett has been serving on the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services since 2011. He was nominated by Bexar County Precinct 2 Commissioner Paul Elizondo and is the chairman of the board.

Barrett received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is currently the President/CEO of Barrett Insurance Services, the first Hispanic commercial insurance agency in San Antonio.

Barrett previously worked with the Texas Council of Community Centers to develop the Texas Council Risk Management Fund, and served on the Risk Management Fund’s first founding board.

Barrett’s dedication to being an active partner in the growth and development of San Antonio and Bexar County is exemplified through his involvement with the Bexar County Small Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (SMWBE) Program, Hispanic Contractors Association of San Antonio, Muscular Dystrophy Association of South Texas, and a number of other civic and community boards.

Mary Rose Brown

Vice Chair

Mary Rose Brown has served on the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services since 2008. She was nominated by the University Health System Board of Managers.

Brown received a bachelor’s degree in communications from Texas State University. She currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for NuStar Energy, L.P., where she oversees the company’s corporate communications, human resources, corporate services and aviation departments. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Valero Energy Corporation and also as Vice President of Public Relations for The Atkins Agency.

Brown currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Texas Business Hall of Fame, and the San Antonio Parks Foundation. She also sits on the advisory Board of Directors for Haven for Hope of Bexar County. She previously served as a trustee of Our Lady of the Lake University and as a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee for the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. She is the past president of the San Antonio chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a long standing member of Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA).

Graciela A. Cigarroa

Secretary

Graciela A. Cigarroa joined the Board of Directors of The Center for Health Care Services in 2015, and currently serves as Secretary. She was nominated by the University Health System Board of Managers. She also serves as Chair of The Center for Health Care Services Foundation.

Cigarroa is an attorney serving as General Counsel for Centro Med. Prior to this position, she was in private practice specializing in nonprofit law and healthcare law. She also serves on several community boards including Heartgift Expansion Board, Thrivewell Cancer Foundation, Alamo City Cancer Council, San Antonio Young Women’s Leadership Academy, University of Texas Health Science Center Council for Excellence in Women’s Health, UTHSCSA Medical Humanities and Ethics Advisory Board, UTHSCSA School of Nursing Advisory Council, UTHSCSA Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Patient Institute, Children’s Shelter, and Family Violence Prevention Services advisory board.

She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. She served a six year gubernatorial appointment with the Department of State Health Services Council. She is past chair of the Mental Health Association of Texas. Cigarroa served on the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association Board of Directors for seven years chairing the Elder Law Handbook Project. She has also in the past served on the boards of the Zoological Society, Cancer Center Council, the San Antonio Library Foundation, the Bexar County Medical Society Alliance, and the Austin Community Foundation and has volunteered with the CTRC Breast Cancer Symposium.

Cigarroa received her Bachelor’s and Law Degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and a Master of Laws in Tax Law from Boston University School of Law.

Margaret Kelley, M.D.

Treasurer

Margaret Kelley, M.D. has been on the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services since 2015 where she currently serves as Treasurer. She was appointed by Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Dr. Kelley received a bachelor’s of arts degree in biology from Brown University and a doctorate of medicine from Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Kelley has previously has served as president of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Chairman of Section V, District XI of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She has served as chief of staff, chief of surgery, and chief of obstetrics and gynecology during her tenure at former Southeast Baptist Hospital. She also served as a member of the Medical Executive Board and a member of the Quality Committee for Baptist Hospital System. She currently is full time staff member of the Methodist Metropolitan Hospital.

Dr. Kelley is an active member of The San Antonio (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the Alpha Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated. Dr. Kelley serves on a number of local community boards such as KLRN (PBS Affiliate) Television, Texas Blood and Tissue Center, and the Wesley Clinic Board of the Methodist Health Care Ministries. She is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society and the Texas Medical Association. She is currently in private practice in San Antonio.

Richard Usatine, M.D.

Richard P. Usatine, MD has been serving on the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services since 2009. He was appointed by the University Health System Board of Managers.

Dr. Usatine received his bachelor’s in chemistry from Williams College and a doctorate in medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is currently a professor of Family and Community Medicine, Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, and Assistant Director of Medical Humanities Education at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Additionally, Usatine is the founder and medical director of the University Health System Skin Clinic.

Dr. Usatine co-founded the UTHSCSA Student-Run Free Clinic Program that helps local community agencies, Alpha Home and SAMMinistries. He also created a “Humanism in Medicine” fellowship for medical students during their senior year. He has co-authored over 130 articles and nine books. Usatine is also the co-founder and co-president of Usatine Media, LLC, which creates interactive medical applications for handheld devices.

Dr. Usatine is also involved in UTHSCSA Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics’ Global Health program through his work in Guatemala, Panama, Haiti and Ethiopia.

Margaret M. Vera

Margaret Vera has been a member of the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services since 2012. She was appointed by Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez.

Vera received her bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University and a doctor of jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

Vera currently sits on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. Additionally, she is a member of the San Antonio Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, Mexican American Bar Association, and a committee member of the Mexican American Physicians Association. Vera has also served on local community boards focusing on arts in San Antonio, such as the San Antonio Art League Museum and Opera Lyric of San Antonio and was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

She is currently in private practice in San Antonio.

Polly Jackson Spencer

Retired Judge

Judge Polly Jackson Spencer joined the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care Services in 2015 and was nominated by the University Health System Board of Managers.

Judge Spencer received a bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University and a doctorate in jurisprudence with distinctions from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Judge Spencer was Probate Court Judge No.1 for Bexar County for 24 years and was one of the driving forces behind Bexar County’s Jail Diversion Program. She is board certified in estate planning and probate law in addition to being a former adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Currently, Judge Spencer is a visiting judge sitting by assignment.

Judge Spencer has served on working committees to help improve the health and wellbeing of residents in Bexar County. Some of those working committees include Bexar County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Committee, Substance Abuse Steering Committee for Bexar County, Bexar County Jail Diversion Task Force, and Bexar County Frequent 911 Callers.

Currently, Judge Spencer serves on a number of community boards such as Trinity University Board of Visitors, Deaf Education and Hearing Science Council, San Antonio Chamber Music Society, Morningside Ministries, and San Antonio Academy. She is also a member and director of The Rotary Club of San Antonio.

Donnie Whited

Donnie Windham Whited was appointed to the Board of Directors of The Center for Health Care Services in June of 2016 by Precinct 4 Bexar County Commissioner, Tommy Calvert.

Mrs. Whited received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. She was a member of the first Urban School Leaders Collaborative (USLC), a cohort-based principal preparation program and earned a Master’s of Arts in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Whited has spent the past decade helping children receive a high quality education through her work in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). Mrs. Whited is the proud principal of Estrada Achievement Center, the Districts’ Alternative Educational Program. At Estrada she has created a culture of mutual respect, social justice and high educational expectations to ensure that every student has an opportunity to develop holistically. Her purpose is to improve students’ quality of life and their future ability to become productive citizens.

Mrs. Whited is keenly aware of the challenges children with mental health issues face in life and in school, and has formed partnerships with Palmers Drug Abuse Program, (PDAP), Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, Bexar County Mental Health, San Antonio Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, (SACADA), Paws for Service and JOVEN. She has been trained in Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) and Children’s Crisis Intervention for the purpose of increased understanding of drug and alcohol abuse in order to serve the students on her campus. Her goal is to establish a Student Support Center which will assist students with mental health issues and help break the stigma of mental illness.

Mrs. Whited is a certified Life Purpose Coach and a Restorative Discipline Coordinator. She also serves on numerous community boards and committees and has developed strong relationships with parents and community leaders across San Antonio.

Laura Parker

Laura Parker is The Center for Health Care Service’s newest trustee. She was appointed in August of 2017 by Precinct 3 Bexar County Commissioner, Kevin A. Wolff.

In 1999, Parker was appointed to the 386th District Court and was re-elected four times. The 386th District Court is a Juvenile Delinquency Court that handles criminal matters involving children under the age of 17. During her time on the bench, Judge Parker handled more than 29,000 juvenile cases. In addition to her regular juvenile docket, Judge Parker presided over three specialty courts: Restore Court for adolescent victims of human sex trafficking, the 386th Drug Court for drug dependent youth, and Crossroads, a mental health program for girls that was recently awarded the 2016 Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award for the Western Region by the National Criminal Justice Association.

In 2011, the Governor appointed Judge Parker to the Executive Board of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the state agency overseeing juvenile justice across the state. She is the Chair of the Bexar County Juvenile Board and has served in that capacity since 2010. She previously served as the Local Administrative Judge for the Bexar County District Courts. Judge Parker is board certified in Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a frequent lecturer on juvenile law topics. Prior to her appointment to the 386th District Court, Judge Parker served as an assistant district attorney in Bexar County.

Judge Parker earned a B.A. in Hispanic Studies from Vassar College in 1987 and graduated cum laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1992. Judge Parker is active with several non-profits dedicated to improving the lives of children. She serves on the board of directors for Communities in Schools, the ChildSafe Advisory Council, and is active with SA 100 and Impact San Antonio. In her spare time she enjoys travelling with her family, playing tennis and watching her daughter play soccer.

Ira Smith, Jr.

Board Member Emeritus

Ira Smith, Jr. has served on the University Health System Board of Managers since 2003 and is currently its Vice Chair. He has overseen the Health System’s $900 million Capital Improvement Program and serves on the UHS Pension Board and Quality Risk Management Committee.

A graduate of St. Mary’s University, Ira retired from City Public Service (CPS Energy) in June 1998 after more than 33 years, having served in a variety of leadership roles including director of Central Services, director of Technical Services and director of Computer Services. Ira served as a member of the Board of Trustees and past Chairman of the Board of The Center for Health Care Services. He was also chair of the Texas Council of Community Mental Health and Retardation Centers and the San Antonio Funding Information Center. He served, and held leadership positions, on both the Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital and the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Board of Directors, and was a member the Community Board for the Methodist and Metropolitan Hospitals.

Mr. Ira Smith Jr. has recently been named Board Member Emeritus for the Texas Council of Community Centers and The Center for Health Care Services.

Sam Williams, Jr.

Board Member Emeritus

Sam Williams, Jr. served on the Board of Directors for The Center for Health Care from 1989 to 2011 and was awarded board member emeritus status in 2011.

Williams received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University. He is a retired school teacher who devoted 25 years of committed service to teaching fourth and fifth grade students. He previously served ten years in the Air Force as a non-commissioned officer performing a number of diversified duties from Special Project Assignments to the position of Social Actions Director. He also administered the Drug/Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Programs and served as consultant to the Base Commander on all aspects of Drug Abuse Control, Race Relations, Equal Opportunity and Domestic Actions.

Williams previously served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers, Inc. He also served on a number of local community boards focusing on education such as the Alamo Alliance of Black School Educators, the San Antonio Task Force on School Dropouts, the National School Volunteers, the Texas Governor’s Volunteers and the Community Workers Planning Council for San Antonio. He previously served as president on the Edgewood Independent School District Board where he was the first African-American to be elected in a largely Hispanic population, and was re-elected for five more consecutive terms.

Williams has also served on the Deacon Board of the Westridge Park First Baptist Church.

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